An advanced resource on the emerging trends and foundational theories of archaeological science, offering students and scholars a reliable reference on the most current techniques and practices The Encyclopedia of Archaeological Sciences provides an authoritative and comprehensive overview of the scientific concepts and techniques that have shaped the contemporary discipline of archaeology. Sponsored by the Society for Archaeological Sciences, this is an essential resource on core topics in the integration of scientific methods into archaeological practice with extensive coverage on subjects of interdisciplinary interest, describing both the latest in technological and scientific developments as well as the foundational theoretical approaches that connect archaeology to broader topics in the social sciences and humanities. In a four-volume set comprised of over 480 entries as selected by leading researchers in the field, this encyclopedic reference work represents the contributions of scholars working all over the world, making this a truly international resource, suitable to support the work of archaeologists engaged with global questions on both the past and future of the discipline. Designed to provide detailed information on theoretical and applied topics, The Encyclopedia of Archaeological Sciences covers the foundations of archaeological science, modern field methods in archaeology, scientific techniques for the analysis of the characteristics and properties of materials, applications of mathematics and computer sciences, conservation studies, and theoretical approaches to the study of material culture and the applications of archaeological science. Working to support the integration of scientific methods and technologies into the standard practice and study of archaeology, The Encyclopedia of Archaeological Sciences is built upon the most important advances in recent scholarship and offers informed insight into the future of archaeology as a scientific discipline.  This work is also available as an online resource: www.archaeologicalsciencesencyclopedia.com